'Flightilla' detainees reportedly begin hunger strike

'Flightilla' detainees reportedly begin hunger strike

A group of Belgian men who were detained after being denied entry into Israel as part of the Welcome to Palestine "Flightilla" campaign late last week have begun a hunger strike in the Beersheba prison where they are being held pending deportation, Welcome to Palestine said in a statement.

French and German detainees in the same prison, the statement said, have also likely joined in the protest. The demands being made by the detainees are to be allowed contact with their families and attorneys, an international investigation into the behavior of airlines and Israeli officials regarding their travel and detainment and for prisoners to be allowed contact amongst themselves. Some 120 international activists are being held pending deportation after being denied entry into Israel over the weekend.